Eight Random Facts

A while ago, my friend Kate "tagged" me for eight random facts. They didn't seem to belong on a Garden Blog, so I put them on my original blog, which hadn't seen much action. Unfortunately, I was tired that night and only got up to 4 (well, 5 if you count the fact that I was tired and decided to finish later). Anyway, Kate, here ya go.

Happy Independence Day!

Here's a flag display in my neighborhood in a cooler season. Today's high was forecast at 99 degrees F and we're in for 104 in the next few days. My evaporative cooler is working like a champ. This photo makes me feel downright chilly. :-)

Fi-ga-ro, Fi-ga-ro, Figarofigarofigaro!

No, not the opera - but my fig "tree". My mom brought me the start from her mammoth fig tree when she last visited, and Figaro has been transplanted a time or two. The next year, F bore one or maybe two delectable fruits. Last year I don't recall how many, if any, there were, since I was busy immersing him in buckets of water to kill an ant colony nesting in the soil and swabbing his leaves with alcohol (later learned I could just scrape it off) to get rid of a nasty scale infestation. I nearly gave up, but this year am being rewarded with a lovely plant and many little figs. Sing it, Figaro!

Urban Farming Part 2

Here's an update on the Urban Farming posting... a photo of the progress... I'm actually a bit amazed at home well their plants are doing since the soil was not amended for so many years and was growing primarily what I call "nasty grass"; the kind that spreads and hooks into any soil it can find. They've got some nice yellow squash ready to harvest (I made my first two zukes into Zucchini Ankara last night), and some cantaloupes look promising (I didn't bother with melons this year), and the other night one of the kids was shouting "Look at this one! It's red! Is it an apple?" so I guess the tomatoes are coming on, too (I ate my first ripe Juliet yesterday). For the first time since starting this garden, I find myself with a bit of competitiveness the next yard over.

Cactus Garden

The centerpiece I brought home from the wedding (on the right) is quite at home with some of my other cacti out on the deck. The one in the middle has a great swirly growth habit.